Christopher c



(No Model.)

C. G. SHARP.

PBSSARY.

No. 395,008. Patented Deo. 25,v 1888.

N. Firms 'Phnom-ummm'. wnmngm. u. c.

l ATTORNEYS.

UNTTRn STATES PATENT Ormea,

CHRISTOPHER C. SHARP, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA.

PESSARY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 395,008, dated December 25, 1888.

Application tiled July 20, 1888. Serial No. 280,489. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom, it may concern.'

Be it known that I, CHRISTOPHER C. SHARP, a citizen of the United States, residing at Indianapolis, in the county of Marion and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Uterine Supporters, of which the following is a specification.

My said invention consists in an improved construction of uterine supporters, whereby a very convenient and perfect instrument of this character'is provided, which can be worn with ease and comfort and one which will be retained in position by the walls of the vagina without the assistance of any exterior means, as will be'hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, which are made a part hereof, and on which similar letters of reference indicate similar parts, Figure l is a sectional view of a portion of the female body illustrating the use to which my invention is applied, the organs being shown in their natural position and the uterus as supported bythe assistance of my invention; Fig. 2, a perspective view of the supporter separately, on an enlarged scale; Fig. 4, a sectional view through the same, and Fig. i). a view of a slightly modified construction.

The supporter consists of the cup-shaped portion A, constructed preferably ot hard rubber or a similar material, and formed to receive the lower end of the uterus or womb in a similar manner to that in which a similar part of other supporters receive the same organ. It is formed with a central perforation, in which is mounted a screw-threaded stud, u, which is formed with a large flat head adapted to tit closely in the bottom of said cup-shaped part, the stud projecting downwardly through the same. against the under side of said part A, is mounted on the lower end of said stud by means of a central screw-threaded perforation, a. It is also formed with a downwardly-proj ectin g stem provided with a transverse perforation, ai, in-which a cord, a3, is secured, Interposed between the part A and the part A', and secured in position by being tightly clamped between them, is a ring, A2, of elastic A part, A', formed to lit closelymaterial-such as gutta-percha or rubberwhich is formed of a width to extend out from the base of said cup-shaped part a sufficient distance to fill the cavity which naturally exists in the vagina just below the lower end of the uterus.

Perforations ai* are provided in the supporter, which extend from the bottom of the cup-shaped part A down through the` several parts, to permit the discharge of any secretions or products of the uterus that may col- -lect therein.

The use of my invention is as follows: lVhen the uterus is in its natural position, the walls of the vagina close nearly together a short distance below its lower end, thusleaving a cavity around this part of the organ, which is to a certain degree a vacuum, and said walls being closed together at this point an inclined surface, is provided possessed of considerable strength or resistance. It being necessary to employ the services of an instrument of this character to assist the natural organs to support the uterus or womb from any cause, the organ is adjusted to its normal position and the supporteris inserted in the vagina to that position, where the lower end of said organ will rest in the cup-shaped part A, when the soft elastic annular liange or ring A2 will spread out and rest against the walls of the vagina, which contract behind it, as before described, and thus sustain the instrument in this position without the assistance of any other artiiicial means. When itis desired to remove it, it can be done by means of the cord d3, which is usually of silk or other soft material, and extends out where it can be conveniently reached. By this means a supporter is provided which has no hard or rigid parts to irritate the vagina or other organs and render the use of the instrument injurious, uncomfortable, or disagreeable; but, on the contrary, it adds greatly to the comfort and ease of those who need its services.

In Fig. 3,1 show the same construction, except that in lieu of the ring A2, Isubstitute a bunch of cotton or similar material, which is placed over the top of the cup and preferably hangs down in quite a quantity beneath said cup. This form is designed for use in case of a diseased uterus, when it is necessary to ap- IOO ply medicine thereto, the medicine being' placed upon the cotton in the cup-shaped part and thus applied directly to the diseased organ in a Very efficient manner. It is placed in position in the saine manner as the other construction, except that the cotton is wadded up behind the cup-shaped part to I'i ll the cavity hel'ore vdescril'ied and sustain the instrument in position. Occasionally it is necessary to support the organ in one direction or the other troln the si'lrrounding' organs, and in such cases the cotton can be placed on that side where it will support the organ in the position desired, as will be readily uinlersttmd.

Having thus fully described my said invention, what I claim as new, and desire to seeure by Letters Patent, is

l. The combination, with a uterine su pporter, of an annular flange or ring' secured to and extendiilg out from the base thereof to rest against the walls of the vagina, substantially as described, and for the purposes specitied.

2. In a uterine supporter, the combination ot' the cupeshaped part VA and the elastic ring' A2, Secured to the base ol said part A and eX- tending' out therefrom, suhstafntiall)v as described, and tor the purposes specilied.

3. The combination, in a uterine supporter, of the eup-shapedpart A, the screw-thrcaded stud o, extendingl down from its hottoin, the part A', screwed onto said stud, the annular ring` A2, extending' out from the hase ot' said cup-shaped part, as described, and pertmations vl'ornnul through the bottoni ol' the de Vice, sul stantially as set forth.

In witness whereof l have hereunto set niy hand and seal at Indianapolis, ndiana, thisl lTth day ot July, A. l). lfsRS.

(IIIRIS'IWPIIER SHARP. \\'itnesses:

E. WL BRADFORD, FRANK W. Woon. 

